In certain professions a mistake can have deadly consequences. Doctors, military personnel and officers are among those individuals were human error costs human lives. That being said, cops and docs are human and will make mistakes. While they will always be held responcible civilly (lawsuits) they do not bare criminal liability unless there is either malice (evil intent) or a total disregard of safety where malice can be implied. If criminal charges were allowed everytime a surgeon or police officer's error resulted in serious bodily harm or death there would be no cops or docs. As a society we suffer more as a result of not having those professions. I do not know what the jury heard but I will say this....just because someone is killed, justice does not necessarily demand that someone go to jail.

Mehserle claimed he mistakenly pulled his handgun instead of a Taser during the incident on New Year's Day 2009 that was videotaped by bystanders.

He mistakenly had his finger on the trigger of his gun. When he lifted himself up (off the victim) he mistakenly pulled the trigger.

The cop should have simply told the truth. What does that tell you about the credibility of cops (who make stuff up)?

Don't put your trigger finger on the trigger until you're ready to fire.

Article wrote:

Mehserle, 28, testified that he struggled with Grant and saw him digging in his pocket. Fearing Grant might have a weapon, Mehserle said he decided to shock Grant with his Taser but pulled his .40-caliber handgun instead.

The video I watched showed the victim was handcuffed and lying face down.

Either I saw a different video or the cop lied. There was nothing the cop could say to bring the victim back to life. His lies meant nothing.

The jury has reached a verdict and it must be respected. Realize the Bart PD aren't exactly the cream of law enforcement. Minimal training, low budgets, understaffed, what do people expect. This cop made a mistake. He is obviously remorseful, admits his mistake, and obviously didn't intend to go out and kill someone that night. No jury could convict him of murder, the evidence did not support it. With time served, he won't be in jail very long. Unfortunately, the truth is....if this person (Leave the race out of it, it doesn't matter what color he is, or where from) wasn't out terrorizing in the middle of the night and followed the lawful orders of a uniformed police officer, everybody would have gone home safely that night.

another sad day for justice in los angeles, police shoot a person int the back and walk away. an involuntary manslalughter charge is not a conviction. i feel very sad for the family. it is hard to have peace when you have visual evidence that your loved was shot in the back, while clearly detained for no reason. the explanation was basically, "my bad". this really hurts. the message is truly a black life is nothing and a person with a badge and a gun can kill anyone for nothing.

Here we go again....All you good citizens complaining about a bad cop???Who the F do you think keeps you safe? If it were not for cops, good and bad, these criminal thugs would be terrorizing all of us without remorse or a second thought. If this dirtbag would not have been out committing crimes in the first place he might be alive today to commit more crimes agains the good people of the world. This scum got what he deserved, whether or not it was an accidental shooting or an intended shooting.

Why don't all you complainers go walking around the nearest ghetto at night or even in the daytime and try minding your own business. See how far you get without getting assaulted, raped, stabbed, harassed, or shot. I dare you.

Finally, FBI statistics show that only 1 in every 11 crimes is stopped.Now, go ahead and take that stroll down the "bad" part of town.....

Let the rioting,looting,and destruction begin.Show whitie that the black peeoples needs to be respected...by burning down their own hood and don'ts for gets the plasma TV, that should compensate for their pain, and why not, after all ones of dem is de pressydent.

with that kind of talk that will get a bullet in your head if you try that.

WEll. Now when there are riots in oakland don't be surprised. The verdict was a huge injustice to democracy!!! We should have all known that the verdict stated was bound to be had. That's why I and my house will not ever trust the justice system anymore. Nor the police here, that look at any normal citizen llike they're above the law. Which in California is the truth. It's time to move from this God forsaken state and move somewhere else where there's still justice and where justice can't be bought!!!!!!!!!!

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